Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1952 [PAGE 1213]

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1310

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[November 23

At its meeting on November 23, the Committee considered a memorandum prepared by Professor Robert B. Hudson, Director of University Broadcasting, who had been directed by the President of the University to head up the studies being made for the Committee. At the request of Chairman Livingston, Director Hudson presented his report, a complete copy of which was filed with the Secretary of the Board for record. Director Hudson's report, as summarized, is as follows: At its meeting on November 23, the Board of Trustees Committee on Television gave special consideration to the question of the present application for the channel tentatively allocated by the FCC for a non-commercial, educational station versus changing the application by asking that the channel be opened for commercial use. An important time element is involved in the consideration of this question because the FCC will close formal hearings on applications on November 26. If the University decides to let its present application stand, no further action needs to be taken at present, but if the University elects to apply for a commercial channel, an amended application must be filed not later than November 26. As matters stand on November 23, 1951, the University may, 1. Resolve to construct and to operate a television station on a non-commercial basis. If this action is taken (or, indeed, if no action is taken) no additional filings are required of the University in the FCC allocations hearings which close on November 26, 1951. (In its filing of September 17, 1951, the University asked the FCC to, make final its proposed assignment of Channel 12 to Urbana for noncommercial, educational use.) Consequences: Under this action, the FCC may reasonably be expected to make final its proposed allocation of V H F Channel 12 to Urbana, reserved for non-commercial, educational use. Furthermore, under such a reservation, it would not be incumbent upon the University to apply immediately for a television license and to place a station in operation. On the basis of the filings previously made by the University, the reservation of the channel may be expected to hold for approximately two years (perhaps, through two sessions of the state legislature), and will be subject to extension if the University shows a bona fide interest in using the channel. 2. Resolve to apply for a license to operate a television station on Channel 12, reserved for non-commercial use, in Urbana, but to petition the FCC to permit the commercial use of the reserved Channel 12 until such time as the area may be adequately served by commercial television stations. Consequences: Under .this plan the University's television station would be able to broadcast both amusement-centered and education-centered programs until such time when privately-owned television stations were available in sufficient numbers to provide amusement-centered programs in the Urbana area. At that point the University would look forward to channeling its resources and energies into more socially significant programs, on a non-commercial basis. (The action suggested under No. 2 is consistent with the proposal advanced to the FCC by the Joint Committee on Educational Television with reference to so-called "single station" areas, ". . . . that the restrictions which will govern non-commercial, educational television stations should be temporarily relaxed where the educational station is the only television station serving all or a substantial part_ of its service area. This temporary relaxation of the rules should be self-terminating. The general principles of the proposal we are making are as follows: _i. A non-commercial, _ educational television station should be permitted, subject to suitable restrictions to insure that a bona fide educational service is rendered, to carry network commercial programs; ii. The permission of such a non-commercial, educational television station to carry network commercial programs should be limited as soon as there is a single commercial television service available to all or a substantial part of the service area of the non-commercial; educational television station; iii. The permission should be entirely withdrawn as soon as two such commercial station services are available to the service area of the noncommercial, educational television station.")